Biden commutes roughly 1,500 sentences and pardons 39 people in biggest single-day act of clemency
Last edited Thu Dec 12, 2024, 09:12 AM - Edit history (1)
Source: AP
Updated 5:00 AM EST, December 12, 2024
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic and is pardoning 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes. It’s the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.
The commutations announced Thursday are for people who have served out home confinement sentences for at least one year after they were released. Prisons were uniquely bad for spreading the virus and some inmates were released in part to stop the spread. At one point, 1 in 5 prisoners had COVID-19, according to a tally kept by The Associated Press.
Biden said he would be taking more steps in the weeks ahead and would continue to review clemency petitions. The second largest single-day act of clemency was by Barack Obama, with 330, shortly before leaving office in 2017.
“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden said in a statement. “As president, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offenses.”
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/biden-pardons-clemency-4432002d67334e6716c2776fd73f3cc8
Link to White House STATEMENT - Statement from President Joe Biden on Providing Clemency for Nearly 1,500 Individuals on Home Confinement and Pardons for 39 Individuals Convicted of Non-Violent Crimes
Link to White House FACT SHEET - FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces Clemency for Nearly 1,500 Americans
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most notably, the "Iran hostages" thing (which is what the GOP was trying to do with the Afghanistan pullout this go-around). You also had a pretty sad economy at the time too - particularly the interest rates (that I point out continually when people bemoan the interest rates of today) -
Link to tweet
America was built on second chances. That's what these pardons and commutations represent.
